Lightbar flew off while driving on highway!!

[Horizonvangogh]

A few of our clients have a lightbar install with ceramic coated windshield. If your windshield is ceramic coated make sure the surfaces are fully prepped and coating has been removed before adhering new lightbar. Service won’t have a clue and prep it normal. You’ll soon find out that the adhesive will fail.

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[L3it3R]

I hope they recognize how dumb this design is and open the lights API to third party bars in the future. The only downside to having a third party bar is that the software for the Tesla one is incompatible.

 

[b2ezu01]

Tesla Service Center Schaumburg IL just installed mine this past Thursday May 8th 2025. Has not fallen off yet. I park inside my garage so not out in the weather.

 

[Diveflyfish]

Tesla Service Center Schaumburg IL just installed mine this past Thursday May 8th 2025. Has not fallen off yet. I park inside my garage so not out in the weather.

Mine is being installed as I type this. I did take the time to talk with the SC tech. Very helpful and even showed me the “primer” for the side of the light bar. Confirmed there is no mechanical sanding or other micro mechanical prep aside from the primer as noted in the pics below. I will look into to finding out what the light bar spacer/substrate is made of. It is of keen interest to be sure to figure out modus of debond. As a very long shot of why, I know certain adhesives can be “debonded” with electric current….. so it would be fascinating to find out if the chemistry would lend itself to store charge and once a critical charge level if that effect decreases bond strength. Is that large surface area of windshield glass acting as a capacitor of sorts? Just thinking outside the box. Looking forward to the completion of the install! Cheers to all.

 

[Bruisershockey]

i got an aftermarket lightbar for mine that adheres to the windshield like this. im shocked that the stock lightbar is the same thing. i looked at the one i got as a cheap alternative, and it works great, so i have no complaints, but i assumed the stock bar was going to have the side attachment brackets like most of the aftermarket ones do. i guess i just didnt realize it was like the cheap one i got.

 

[Miznat411]

OP here, pictures attached.

To me this is not the issue of the epoxy more of an institution issue. Perhaps something as simple as not using alcohol wipe on the light to remove any oils from manufacturing. Looks like it had no problem sticking to the glass.
It suck when you have a few people at the end of a line of employees that don’t do their part and it makes the whole company look bad.

 

[Old ICU Doc]

Mine fell off last night 05/12 at exact moment I briefly accelerated to 112 mph for 30 seconds on highway to put some distance between a fast approaching vehicle behind me. It was installed about 3 weeks ago by Tesla SC. AI says air pressure at 112 mph is 1.98 pressure at 80 mph. Fractured upper trim when wires were yanked out.

 

[Ruffles]

I had my install appointment today. The service center said they have been instructed to use a new primer specifically to address the lightbars coming off, which they unfortunately didn't have so I'm rescheduling.

 

[Diveflyfish]

I had my install appointment today. The service center said they have been instructed to use a new primer specifically to address the lightbars coming off, which they unfortunately didn't have so I'm rescheduling.

Will you share what the “new” primer is and when the SC made aware of the “new” primer? Thank you! On my way to pick up my vehicle now!
Cheers

 

[mongo]

Will you share what the “new” primer is and when the SC made aware of the “new” primer? Thank you! On my way to pick up my vehicle now!
Cheers

BETASEAL 43533 for lightbar
NOT BETAPRIME 5504G which is only for the windshield.

 

[Diveflyfish]

BETASEAL 43533 for lightbar
NOT BETAPRIME 5504G which is only for the windshield.

Well, I shall soon find out if the correct primer for each was used! Thank you for this info!!
Cheers!

 

[Jiggahertz]

Mine flew off a couple weeks ago. Was passing someone on the highway, hit about 110mph to pass and it flew off. Luckily it didn't hit anybody. I went back and couldn't find it on the road. It didn't break the trim, thankfully the wires just snapped outside the trim. Mine came off the glass, not the light, opposite of OP. I have a service request in with Tesla, they have been reviewing it for two weeks now. They have not said how they will handle it.

 

[dalton108]

Mine flew off a couple weeks ago. Was passing someone on the highway, hit about 110mph to pass and it flew off. Luckily it didn't hit anybody. I went back and couldn't find it on the road. It didn't break the trim, thankfully the wires just snapped outside the trim. Mine came off the glass, not the light, opposite of OP. I have a service request in with Tesla, they have been reviewing it for two weeks now. They have not said how they will handle it.

Good to know. Of the now four that have been reported here that I’m aware of you’re the only one that had it separate from the glass. Just to be clear your windshield was completely clean no adhesive on it?

 

[Maaz]

That’s crazy, I’ve never agreed with the adhesive mounting decision since day one. My bracket lightbar has been solid for over 5 months now.

 

[MICyber]

Was yours installed in colder weather? My service center had to warm up the windshield with a heater for proper adhesion. Glues don’t work in the cold.

Looks like the adhesive to windshield held and the lightbar adhesion was the problem.

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